Automatic gate

Claim 2

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like comprising: a. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway, said barrier members being flexibly carried with respect to each other so that said barrier members can be stacked closely adjacent each other when lowered into a recess means; b. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means being self restoring for restoring said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means; said raising means comprising a recoil means that includes a counterweight of sufficient weight to be pulled downwardly by gravity to pull said barrier members upwardly to close said gate; said counterweight being connected with said barrier members via a first pulley so as to move substantially the same distance as the top barrier member; c. lowering means connected ultimately with said barrier members so as to impose a force to effect lowering of said barrier members upon the approach of said vehicle or the like; said lowering means comprising an approach treadle means that is pivotally disposed in the approach to said gate and has its free end connected with a second pulley that is smaller than said first pulley and that is connected with said first pulley such that said first pulley rotates the same number of revolutions that said second pulley is rotated; whereby when said approach treadle is moved downwardly by the weight of said vehicle or the like, said gate is opened by lowering said barrier members and said counterweight is raised; and said gate is closed by raising said barrier members through the downward movement of said counterweight after said vehicle has passed off said approach treadle means; and d. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 3

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like comprising: a. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway, said barrier members being flexibly carried with respect to each other so that said barrier members can be stacked closely adjacent each other when lowered into a recess means; b. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means being self restoring for restoring said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means; said raising means comprising a recoil means in the form of a counterweight having sufficient weight to be pulled downwardly by gravity to pull said barrier members upwardly to close said gate; said barrier members being connected with one side of a first pulley and said counterweight being connected with the opposite side of a second pulley that is smaller than said first pulley and that is connected with said first pulley such that said first pulley rotates the same number of revolutions that said second pulley is rotated and such that when said counterweight is moved a first distance in a first direction, said barrier members are moved a greater distance in the opposite direction; c. lowering means connected ultimately with said barrier members so as to impose a force to effect lowering of said barrier members upon the approach of said vehicle or the like; said lowering means comprising an approach treadle means that is pivotally disposed in the approach to said gate and linkage means connecting said counterweight with the free end of said approach treadle means sUch that said counterweight is raised as the free end of said approach treadle means is depressed; and d. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 4

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like comprising: a. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway, said barrier members being flexibly carried with respect to each other so that said barrier members can be stacked closely adjacent each other when lowered into a recess means; b. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means being self restoring for restoring said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means; said raising means comprising a recoil means in the form of a counterweight having sufficient weight to be pulled downwardly by gravity to pull said barrier members upwardly to close said gate; said barrier members being connected with one side of a first pulley and said counterweight being connected with the opposite side of a second pulley that is smaller than said first pulley and that is connected with said first pulley such that said first pulley rotates the same number of revolutions that said second pulley is rotated and such that when said counterweight is moved a first distance in a first direction, said barrier members are moved a greater distance in the opposite direction; c. lowering means connected ultimately with said barrier members so as to impose a force to effect lowering of said barrier members upon the approach of said vehicle or the like; said lowering means comprising an approach treadle means that is pivotally disposed in the approach to said gate and linkage means connecting said counterweight with the free end of said approach treadle means sUch that said counterweight is raised as the free end of said approach treadle means is depressed; and d. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 5

The automatic gate of claim 2 wherein said counterweight is carried by a pivotally mounted lever means that is also connected with said approach treadle means and has a first moment arm between a fulcrum shaft means and said counterweight and a second moment arm between said fulcrum shaft means and the point of connection of said treadle means.

Claim 6

The automatic gate of claim 3 wherein said first moment arm is longer than said second moment arm to obtain a speed advantage whereby said counterweight is moved a greater distance than is said free end of said approach treadle means and in the opposite direction.

Claim 7

The automatic gate of claim 3 wherein said plurality of barrier members comprise at least five longitudinal members.

Claim 8

The automatic gate of claim 5 wherein the top longitudinal member is a rigid longitudinal member that has sufficient strength to bear the weight of the remaining barrier members and is connected therewith by a flexible lineal member; and is connected ultimately with said raising means and said lowering means.

Claim 9

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like, comprising: a. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway, said barrier members being flexibly carrier with respect to each other so that said barrier members can be stacked closely adjacent to each other when lowered into a recess means; b. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means being self restoring for restoring said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means or held down by a timing means; c. lowering means connected ultimately with said barrier members so as to impose a force to effect lowering of said barrier members upon the approach of said vehicle or the like; d. timing means connected with said lowering means and operable to inhibit operation of said raising means for a predetermined period of time after said gate has been opened by lowering said barrier members into a recess means; said timing means comprising: i. hold down means pivotally disposed adjacent at least one of said barrier members for swinging over said barrier member when said barrier member is emplaced in said recess means; ii. retraction means connected with said hold down means for releasing it to allow said barrier members to be raised and effect a closed gate; said retraction means being connected with said lowering means so as to be armed and start a predetermined time interval after said barrier members have been lowered into said recess means; and iii. inhibit means connected with said retraction means so as to inhibit operation of said retraction means and prevent release of said hold down means for a predetermined period of time after said lowering means is deactivated by said vehicle or the like rolling therefrom; and e. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 10

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like, comprising: a. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway, said barrier members being flexibly carrier with respect to each other so that said barrier members can be stacked closely adjacent to each other when lowered into a recess means; b. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means being self restoring for restoring said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means or held down by a timing means; c. lowering means connected ultimately with said barrier members so as to impose a force to effect lowering of said barrier members upon the approach of said vehicle or the like; d. timing means connected with said lowering means and operable to inhibit operation of said raising means for a predetermined period of time after said gate has been opened by lowering said barrier members into a recess means; said timing means comprising: i. hold down means pivotally disposed adjacent at least one of said barrier members for swinging over said barrier member when said barrier member is emplaced in said recess means; ii. retraction means connected with said hold down means for releasing it to allow said barrier members to be raised and effect a closed gate; said retraction means being connected with said lowering means so as to be armed and start a predetermined time interval after said barrier members have been lowered into said recess means; and iii. inhibit means connected with said retraction means so as to inhibit operation of said retraction means and prevent release of said hold down means for a predetermined period of time after said lowering means is deactivated by said vehicle or the like rolling therefrom; and e. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 11

The automatic gate of claim 7 wherein said hold down means comprises a pair of plate means pivotally mounted one at each end of said barrier members for swinging over each end of said barrier members emplaced in said recess means; and wherein said retraction means is connected with said plate means for pulling said plate means from over each end of said barrier members; wherein said retraction means is connected with said lowering means so as to allow said plate means to be positioned over said ends of said barrier members after said barrier members have been lowered into said recess means; and wherein said inhibit means prevents retraction of said plate means for a predeterminEd period of time.

Claim 12

The automatic gate of claim 8 wherein said retraction means comprises a spring powered piston disposed within a cylinder with said spring on one side of said piston, and a piston shaft extends from said piston exteriorly of said cylinder for connection with said plate means and ultimately with said lowering means; said spring being distorted upon lowering of said barrier members so as to bias said piston toward its normal position; and wherein said inhibit means comprises fluid in said cylinder on the other side of said piston and a fluid flow resistance controlling the speed said fluid is allowed to flow from said cylinder.

Claim 13

The automatic gate of claim 9 wherein said lowering means includes an approach treadle means that is moved downwardly in response to weight of said vehicle or the like; a compressible fluid is contained in said cylinder with said spring and a compressible fluid chamber is also connected via a conduit and an adjustable valve means with the end of said cylinder containing said spring and said compressible fluid so that said compressible fluid is flowed into said compressible fluid chamber at super atmospheric pressure to store energy to help said spring restore said piston to its normal position.

Claim 14

The automatic gate of claim 10 wherein said piston shaft is also connected with a pivotally mounted member that has a notch release means that is responsively positioned adjacent a cam means that moves responsive to movement of said lowering means, said cam means moving in a first direction in response to downward movement of said approach treadle means and in a second direction in response to upward movement of said approach treadle means, said pivotally mounted member being movable so as to emplace said plate means over said barrier members in said notch release means in response to movement of said cam means in said first direction and disengagement of said cam means; and returning to its normal position after expiration of said predetermined interval of time; said cam means being semi-flexibly mounted so as to slide over the free end of said pivotally mounted member to return to its normal position engaging said notch release means after said pivotally mounted member has returned to its normal position.

Claim 15

The automatic gate of claim 7 wherein said hold down means comprises at least one arcuate member that is pivotally mounted adjacent a slot portion of said recess means that is to be occupied by the top barrier member in the open position and is pivotally mounted with a protruding bottom portion such that as said top barrier member is moved into said recess means, said arcuate member is pivoted over said top barrier member; said arcuate member being connected via a lineal rod with a lever portion, said lever portion being disposed adjacent one end of said barrier members; a pivotally mounted and biased trigger means that is adapted to engage said lever portion when said lever portion is moved into said hold down position; said lever portion being moved into an unobtrusive position when said gate is raised into the closed position; and wherein said retraction means is connected with said trigger means for disengaging said trigger means from said lever portion upon the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

Claim 16

The automatic gate of claim 25 wherein said lowering means comprise a treadle means, a rigid member connected with said treadle means, a link means connected with said rigid member and ultimately connected with said raising means, wherein said link means is connected with an eccentric, pivotally mounted cam means having a recess means for engaging a free end of a pivotally mounted lever; wherein said pivotally mounted lever is connected with a support means via a fulcrum shaft and is connected at its end opposite its free end by a flexible lineal member with a retraction means so as to arm said retraction means when the free end of said pivotal lever is moved downwardly by said pivotally mounted ecceNtric cam means on said link means; said eccentric, pivotally mounted cam means being mounted so that its free end pivots inwardly and around the free end of said pivotally mounted lever means for returning to its normal position after said lever means has returned to its normal position to emplace said cam means in its normal position operable to move the free end of said pivotally mounted lever means downwardly in response to downward movement of the lowering means.

Claim 17

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like, comprising: a. upright support means disposed on each side of said roadway; b. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway and having their ends disposed adjacent said upright support means, said barrier members being joined together vertically by flexible lineal members so that said barrier members can be lowered into a recess means; c. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means comprising a source of potential energy sufficient to be self restoring so as to restore said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means or retained in its lowered position by a timing means; d. lowering means connected with said barrier members via said raising means and operable to effect lowering of said barrier members by increasing the potential energy of said raising means; said lowering means including a pivotal approach treadle means that has its free end movable downwardly in response to weight of said vehicle or the like thereon, said lowering means also having a link means carrying a cam means that moves upwardly and downwardly concomitantly with the free end of said approach treadle means; e. timing means connected with said lowering means and operable to inhibit operation of said raising means for a predetermined period of time after said gate has been opened by lowering said barrier members into a recess means and after said vehicle or the like rolls from on said approach treadle means; said timing means including: i. hold down means pivotally disposed adjacent at least one of said barrier members for swinging over said barrier member when said barrier member is emplaced in a recess means; ii. retraction means connected with said hold down means for releasing it to allow said barrier members to be raised into a normal position; said retraction means being connected with a pivotally mounted member that is responsively positioned adjacent said cam means for arming said retraction means in response to downward movement of said cam means; said pivotally mounted member effecting arming of said retraction means by increasing the potential energy therein in response to downward movement of said cam means; said cam means being flexibly mounted so as to allow upward movement of the free end of said pivotally mounted member and subsequent movement of said cam means to its normal position over said free end of said pivotally mounted member; and iii. inhibit means connected with said retraction means so as to inhibit operation of said retraction means and prevent release of said hold down means for a predetermined time interval after said lowering means is deactivated by said vehicle or the like rolling therefrom; and f. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 18

An automatic gate for blocking a gap in a fence means at a roadway and for automatically opening to allow passage of a vehicle or the like, comprising: a. upright support means disposed on each side of said roadway; b. a plurality of barrier members extending laterally across said roadway and having their ends disposed adjacent said upright support means, said barrier members being joined together vertically by flexible lineal members so that said barrier members can be lowered into a recess means; c. raising means connected with said barrier members so as to raise said barrier members to form said gate; said raising means comprising a source of potential energy sufficient to be self restoring so as to restore said gate to its raised position other than when said gate is lowered by a lowering means or retained in its lowered position by a timing means; d. lowering means connected with said barrier members via said raising means and operable to effect lowering of said barrier members by increasing the potential energy of said raising means; said lowering means including a pivotal approach treadle means that has its free end movable downwardly in response to weight of said vehicle or the like thereon, said lowering means also having a link means carrying a cam means that moves upwardly and downwardly concomitantly with the free end of said approach treadle means; e. timing means connected with said lowering means and operable to inhibit operation of said raising means for a predetermined period of time after said gate has been opened by lowering said barrier members into a recess means and after said vehicle or the like rolls from on said approach treadle means; said timing means including: i. hold down means pivotally disposed adjacent at least one of said barrier members for swinging over said barrier member when said barrier member is emplaced in a recess means; ii. retraction means connected with said hold down means for releasing it to allow said barrier members to be raised into a normal position; said retraction means being connected with a pivotally mounted member that is responsively positioned adjacent said cam means for arming said retraction means in response to downward movement of said cam means; said pivotally mounted member effecting arming of said retraction means by increasing the potential energy therein in response to downward movement of said cam means; said cam means being flexibly mounted so as to allow upward movement of the free end of said pivotally mounted member and subsequent movement of said cam means to its normal position over said free end of said pivotally mounted member; and iii. inhibit means connected with said retraction means so as to inhibit operation of said retraction means and prevent release of said hold down means for a predetermined time interval after said lowering means is deactivated by said vehicle or the like rolling therefrom; and f. recess means for receiving said barrier members when lowered thereinto in closely stacked relationship.

Claim 19

The automatic gate of claim 14 wherein said retraction means comprises a piston and piston shaft disposed, respectively, within and partially within a cylinder with a bias means on one side of said piston; and said inhibit means comprises a fluid on the other side of said piston and a fluid flow resistance that is adjustable for adjustment of the predetermined time interval.

Claim 20

The automatic gate of claim 14 wherein said raising means comprises a weight that is Mounted on a lever that is pivotally carried by said upright support means at a first fulcrum point, said weight also being connected with a second pulley that is drivingly connected with a first pulley that is larger in diameter than said second pulley for effecting a speed advantage such that at least a top barrier member which is connected with said first pulley is lowered more rapidly than said counterweight is raised; said lever arms having a first moment arm from said weight to said fulcrum point that is greater than a second moment arm from said fulcrum point to a point of connection with said approach treadle means so as to effect a speed advantage in raising said counterweight when the free end of said approach treadle means is depressed downwardly.

Claim 21

The automatic gate of claim 16 wherein said pivotally mounted lever carrying said counterweight is also connected with said upright support means via a shock absorber means to effect smooth transition from a position of low potential energy to a position of higher potential energy and vice versa.